Can-opener



E. 0. MURMANN.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 27. `1919.

Patented J an. 27, 1920.

Fig Z Zveni'or Eugene O. Mu-mami by WM M3 mak@ hiaAZorneyJ NTED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE 0. MURMANN, OF GLENDALE, CALIFGRNIA.

CAN- OPENER.

Application led January 27, 1919.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that l EUGENE t). MURMANN a citizen of Russia, residing at Glendale, in the count)T of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a can opener which cuts downwardly through the top of a can.

l-leretofore, can openers which operate with a shearing reciprocating movement have been constructed to cut upwardly through the can top, thereby tearing and leaving a projecting ragged edge. lt is the principal object of my invention to provide a can opener which will cut downwardly, thereby forcing the cut edge inwardly. it is a further object of this invention to provide a can opener which will cut close to the edge of the can, and which will operate on cans of any contour.

l accomplish these objects by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in Which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a cylindrical can with my improved can opener in position to cut the top; Fig. 2 is a view .showing the knife side of the opener; Fig. 3 is a view of the opposite side of the opener; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section as seen on the line 1f-lr of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a top view of the opener.

Referring to the can opener, it comprises a handle 9, preferably formed of metal, a knife l0, and a fulcrum plate ll. T ie knife has a point 12 and a cutting edge 13. rEhe blade is warped so that the rear is offset from the handle as indicated in Fig. 5 the point 12 is also offset.

The fulcrum plate 11 is secured to the handle parallel to the knife blade and has its forward end offset similar to the knife blade edge. lt will be noted from an inspection of Figs. 3 and et that the end of the fulcrum member overhangs the point of the knife blade. A hole in the fulcrum plate is threaded and disposed therein is a fulcrum pin l5.

The opener is started by placingthe point of the knife edge upon the top of the can with the end of the fulcrum plate resting against the outside lip. The opener is then forced downwardly, the point cutting into the can as shown in Fig. 1. This causes the forward end of the fulcruin plate to slip Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 273,399.

over the edge of the can with the fulcrum pin 15 disposed below the lip of the can. Ehe pin is then screwed i Ato position so that its end is underneath the lip, and it will serve as a fulcrum against upward pressure. The handle is now pressed down toward the can as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. rlhe downward movement of the handle causes the knife to cut through the top of the can, and at the same time it flattens the ragged edge against the can. T he handle is lifted to the position shown in full lines in 2, and the opener is 'pulled toward the op rater until the cutting edge comes in Contact with the end of the slit in the top of the can. The operation is repeated and in this manner the top is opened.

lt is obvious that the fulcrum pin should not be screwed tight against the can so as to prevent sliding the opener around the can. lifter the top has been cut the pin 15 is retracted so as to permit the withdrawal of the opener from the can. The offsetting of the end of the fulcrum member permits the latter to be disposed under the lip of the can when the can opener is in cutting position and prevent wabbling of the opener. The offset indicated by 11i in Fig. 5 provides for cutting the rounded corners on cans of general rectangular shape.

TWhat l claim is:

l. A can opener comprising a fulcrum member provided at its forward end with a fulcruni for disposal under the lip of a can, and a blade having' its penetrating tip by the side of and extending over said fulcrum whereby to lock said opener to said lip.

2. A can opener for downward cutting movement having a knife blade and a movable fulcrum member by the side thereof to engage under the lip of a can, said fulcrum member having its fulcrum point located so as to be covered by the penetrating` tip of the knife blade. i

3. A can opener comprising a. fulcruni member provided with an angular extension, said extension being provided at its forward end with a fulcrum, and a blade eX- tending through the angle between said handle and extension with its penetrating tip covering said fulcrum.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this :20th day of January, 1919.

EUGENE O. MURMANN. 

